American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB)
AAB is a national professional association whose members are clinical laboratory directors, owners, supervisors, managers, medical technologists, medical laboratory technicians, physician office laboratory technicians and phlebotomists. AAB also has three specialized membership sections for laboratory professionals: the College of Reproductive Biology (CRB), the Environmental Biology and Public Health Section (EBPH) and the National Independent Laboratory Association (NILA).
AAB is committed to the pursuit of excellence in clinical laboratory services by enhancing the professional skills of each of its members; promoting more efficient and productive operations; offering external quality control programs; collaborating with other professional associations and government agencies; promoting safe laboratory practices; and educating legislators, regulators, and the general public about clinical laboratory tests and procedures.
MT(AAB) Medical Technologist Disciplines and Qualifications
Individuals may be certified as an MT(AAB) in up to seven (7) disciplines. The first five (5) disciplines listed below are included in the Generalist MT(AAB) certification, but an individual may also apply for MT(AAB) certification in just one or several of these disciplines:
- 1. Chemistry (Clinical Chemistry, Endocrinology, Toxicology, Urinalysis, Radioimmunoassay)
- 2. Hematology (Hemostasis, Coagulation, Hematologic Elements, Cell Identification and Parameters, Bone Marrow, Staining, Hematologic Abnormalities and Disease)
- 3. Immunology (Serology, General Immunology, Antibody and Antigen Identification and Measurement)
- 4. Immunohematology (ABO Grouping and Rh Typing, Unexpected Antibody Detection and Identification, Compatibility Testing)
- 5. Microbiology (Bacteriology, Mycology, Parasitology, and Virology)
- 6. Molecular Diagnostics
- In addition, individuals working in assisted reproductive technology (ART) laboratories may also be certified as MT(AAB)s in:
- 7. Andrology (Male Infertility, Semen Analysis, Sperm Function Tests, Sperm-Cervical Mucous Interaction, Anti-Sperm Antibodies), and
- 8. Embryology (Oocyte Identification and Fertilization, Micromanipulation, Embryo Culture, Cryopreservation) [Applicants for embryology must also document the performance of 30 assisted reproductive technology (ART) laboratory procedure(s) in humans. Individuals who lack the documented performance of 30 ART laboratory procedures in humans may still challenge the MT(AAB) examination in embryology. Upon passing the examination, these individuals will be designated medical technologist-provisional [MT-P(AAB)] until such time as they complete 30 ART laboratory procedures in humans, at which time the provisional status will be removed.]
An individual may apply for certification in just one discipline, several disciplines, or all eight (8) disciplines. The discipline(s) in which an individual is certified will be listed on the AAB Board of Registry certificate and certification card forwarded to successful applicants.
To be certified as MT(AAB), an individual must pass the appropriate AAB Board of Registry examination AND meet at least one (1) of the following requirements:
- 1. Earn a doctoral, masters, or baccalaureate degree, or the equivalent, from an accredited university or college with a major in a chemical, physical, biological, or clinical laboratory science or medical technology.
- In addition, individuals qualifying under this route must also obtain one year of acceptable full-time experience in the applicable technical disciplines.
- 2. Successfully complete ninety (90) semester hours in an accredited university or college with a major in a chemical, physical, biological, or clinical laboratory science or medical technology.
- In addition, individuals qualifying under this route must also obtain one year of acceptable full-time experience in the applicable technical disciplines.
- 3. Earn an associate degree or an associate of applied science degree, or the equivalent, from an accredited institution with a major in a laboratory science or medical technology.
- The equivalent of an associate degree is defined as sixty (60) semester hours, of which twenty-four (24) semester hours are either:
- 1. medical laboratory technology courses, or
- 2. six (6) semester hours of chemistry; six (6) semester hours of biology; and twelve (12) semester hours of courses in chemistry, biology or medical laboratory technology in any combination.
- In addition, individuals qualifying under route #3 must also obtain three years of acceptable full-time experience in the applicable technical disciplines.
- Individuals who lack three (3) years of acceptable full-time experience may still challenge the MT(AAB) examination. Upon passing the examination, these individuals will be designated medical technologist-provisional [MT-P(AAB)] until they complete three (3) years of acceptable full-time experience in the applicable technical disciplines, at which time the provisional status will be removed.
- 4. Have previously qualified, or could have qualified, as a technologist under the revised Medicare/CLlA 67 regulations (42 CFR 493.1433) published on March 14, 1990 (55 FR 9538).
- Question: Is the examination written or computerized?
- Answer: The examination is a paper and pencil test, but it is scored by a computer scanner.
- Question: How long is the application process?
- Answer: The length of time varies depending how long it takes for the AAB Board of Registry office to receive your documents (transcripts, verifications of employment, etc.) If there are no unexpected delays in receiving these documents, the process usually takes six to eight weeks.
- Question: How much money do I send in with the application?
- Answer: Forward the appropriate application fee. The examination fee is not due until you are approved to take the examination, although you can pay earlier if you wish. Applications fees are nonrefundable; examination fees are refundable if the examination is cancelled sufficiently in advance.
- Question: Where is the examination given?
- Answer: The examination is offered in California and Florida three to four times a year, usually at a community college. The California and Florida examination dates and sites are posted on the AAB website.
- In other states the examination is given at approved college or university testing centers. A list of approved testing centers will be forwarded to you after you are approved to sit for the examination.
- Question: Is there any study material available?
- Answer: After the Board determines that you are eligible to sit for the examination(s), you will receive a Content Outline for the AAB Board of Registry examination(s) that you are eligible to take. The Content Outline lists the topics covered by the examination(s) and the approximate percentage of questions in each of those topics.
- Question: Can I send a copy of my transcript?
- Answer: No. Transcripts must be forwarded by the issuing college/university/school. You must authorize the institution to release your transcript to the AAB Board of Registry. The form to authorize an educational institution to release your transcript to the AAB Board of Registry can be downloaded from the AAB website or you may call AAB at (314)241-1445 and request a copy of the Transcript Release Form.
- Question: What happens if I fail the examination?
- Answer: If you fail the examination, you must wait three months from your initial examination date to retake the examination. In the event of a second failure, you must wait twelve months from the second examination date to retake the examination. After three failures, your application will be closed and you will be required to wait a period of two years before you can reapply for certification.
- Question: Will my money be refunded if I am not approved to take the examination?
- Answer: Application fees are nonrefundable. However, any examination fees that may have been forwarded are refundable.
- Question: Should I take the generalist examination or the individual discipline examination(s)?
- Answer: There is a two-fold scoring requirement to pass the Generalist MT and MLT examinations. To pass the Generalist MT/MLT examinations, you must answer at least 50% correct within each of the five technical disciplines and answer at least 60% correct on both the basic knowledge discipline and on your overall (all five technical disciplines plus basic knowledge) score.
These revised Medicare/CLIA 67 regulations include individuals who passed the HHS (formerly HEW) Proficiency Examination for medical technologists and those who had ten (10) years of full-time experience prior to January 1, 1968.
NOTE: Applicants for MT(AAB) in embyrology must also document the performance of 30 assisted reproductive technology (ART) laboratory procedure(s) in humans.
Individuals who lack the documented performance of 30 ART laboratory procedures in humans may still challenge the MT(AAB) examination. Upon passing the examination, these individuals will be designated medical technologist-provisional [MT-P(AAB)] until such time as they complete 30 ART laboratory procedures in humans, at which time the provisional status will be removed.
AAB - Frequently Asked Questions:
If you fail one discipline on the Generalist examination, you fail the entire examination. Therefore, if there are disciplines that you are weak in, you may want to take the individual discipline(s) examination. However, if you recently completed an MT or MLT training program, you may want to challenge the Generalist examination so that you can be certified in the five major technical disciplines.
Individual discipline examinations are scored by discipline. If you correctly answer the minimum number needed to pass (60% of 70 questions), you pass in that discipline. If you fail a discipline(s), you only need to retake the discipline(s) you failed. However, you must pass the Basic Knowledge discipline before you can be certified in any technical discipline.
Example of score for Generalist MT/MLT examination:
Subject No. of Questions Minimum Correct Answers Required
- Your Score Pass/Fail
- Basic Knowledge 40 24 (60%) 26 Pass
- Chemistry 40 20 (50%) 26 Pass
- Microbiology 40 20 (50%) 16 Fail
- Immunology 40 20 (50%) 23 Pass
- Hematology 40 20 (50%) 25 Pass
- Immunohematology 40 20 (50%) 20 Pass
Number Needed
To Pass:
Overall Score for Exam 240 144 (60%) 136 Fail
This individual needed to score at least 60% in Basic Knowledge, and did. The individual also needed to score at least 50% in each of the five technical disciplines, which he/she did except for the discipline of Microbiology. This alone caused the individual to fail the entire Generalist examination. In addition, the individual needed to score at least 60% overall, which he/she did not do. This, by itself, would also cause the individual to fail the entire examination.
- Question: Will I be allowed to use a calculator during the examination?
- Answer: No.
- Question: How do I have the Provisional Status removed from my certification?
- Answer: Once you have completed one year of full-time clinical laboratory experience [for MT(AAB)s with a four-year college degree] or three years of full-time clinical laboratory experience [for MT(AAB)s with at least an associate (two-year) degree], forward a letter to the AAB Board of Registry requesting that your Provisional Status be removed from your certification. Include the name(s) and complete mailing address(es) of your employer(s) so that we can verify your work experience.
- The AAB Board of Registry will forward a verification of employment form to your employer(s) listed on your letter. Once the completed employment verification of employment form(s) is received in the AAB Board of Registry office, your request will be submitted along with the verification of work experience form(s) to the AAB Board of Registry for review. You will be notified of the Boards decision once it is received in the AAB Board of Registry office.
- Question: Which states recognize my AAB Board of Registry certification?
- Answer: Most states (39) do not have licensure for MTs and MLTs. In these states, the federal CLIA rules apply. Under CLIA, you must have at least an associate degree with a major in a laboratory science to perform high complexity testing.
- Eleven states [California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and West Virginia] have licensure for MTs and MLTs. The AAB Board of Registry examinations are recognized in all of these states.
- The twelfth state, New York, is still developing its licensure program.
- Question: What documents are required to submit a name change?
- Answer: A copy of the legal document(s) changing your name (e.g., marriage license or divorce decree) must be forwarded to the AAB Board of Registry office.
- Question: How soon will I receive my examination results?
- Answer: You should receive your examination results 4 to 6 weeks from the date of your examination.
- Question: How will I receive my examination results?
- Answer: Examination results are forwarded via mail. Be sure the AAB Board of Registry has your correct address
*The preceding Information was obtained from the American Association of Bioanalyst. Please contact the AAB for more detailed information.
www.aab.org
